Self Check Q&A

Consider the below questions to check your understanding of topics covered in the book. Click on the question to reveal the answer.

1. How many criminal homicides are recorded in England and Wales each year? What proportion is ‘cleared-up’?

Answer: around 90 per cent

2. What did Maguire (2007) argue was a recurring myth relating to criminal investigations? 

Answer: Maguire (2007) argued that a recurring myth of investigations is that a key purpose is to establish the truth of an alleged criminal incident.

3. Which were the three biggest public sector employees of fraud investigators?

Answer: Department for Work and Pensions (3300 staff investigating social security fraud), local authorities (over 2000 staff investigating housing benefit fraud) and the NHS (over 500 staff investigating fraud)

4. Which 19th century piece of legislation boosted trade for private detectives?

Answer: 1857 Matrimonial Causes Act

5. According to Stelfox (2009), how much time did routine police patrol officers spend on preliminary investigations?

Answer: Stelfox (2009) noted that research findings suggest that routine patrol officers spend approximately one fifth of their working time on preliminary investigations.

6. What four ‘commands’ form the core of work coordinated by the National Crime Agency?

Answer: organised crime; border policing; economic crime; child exploitation and online protection

7. What does research suggest is the aspect of investigation most significant to resolving cases?

Answer: Research studies strongly indicate that gathering knowledge and information from victims and witnesses (and other members of the public) are the most significant means of resolving case.

8. Who developed the ‘Exchange Principle’ that any contact between two materials leads to the transfer of trace elements between them?

Answer: Locard

9. In response to which crimes were genetic fingerprinting techniques first applied?

Answer: the murders committed by Colin Pitchfork in Leicestershire in the mid-1980s

10. Who’s study of investigations of drug crime found that detectives regarded the completion of robust paperwork as central to the preparation of evidence?

Answer: Bacon, 2013